Berlin Case Study - Cities Institute

In contrast, Kreuzberg had been the cultural centre
of West Berlin, but now struggles with social and
economic problems. Kreuzberg is part of the borough
of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (PDS party). Kreuzberg’s
major social-cultural centres and shopping areas are
Kottbusser Tor, Mehringdamm, and Schlesisches Tor.
However, after the fall of the Wall, Kreuzberg had to
cope with significant spending cuts, because urban
regeneration funds were redistributed to districts which
by that time where in greater need of funding, e.g.
Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain (Gdaniec 2000).
Kreuzberg therefore found itself the centre of
a unified Berlin with hopes that the ‘rich mix’
would coexist and flourish, but also fearing that
gentrification and displacement by upmarket
incomers would threaten this balance. In practice
neither have occurred and the area now suffers
from inter-community conflicts with the exodus of
German and Turkish middle classes, leaving poorer,
older residual resident groups. New migrants are
more excluded and at risk with little chance of
labour market participation. They include families
of Turkish settlers, refugees from Bosnia and Kosovo,
Arab, Kurdish and Lebanese refugees, asylum seekers
and ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe. In the
Kottbusser Tor (gate) neighbourhood of Kreuzberg,
an estimated 80% are not of German origin, with
55% foreign nationals. Unemployment is 23–26% in
some neighbourhoods (versus an average of 19% in
Berlin) with the proportion of under-18 years olds
reaching 33%, double the city average.
After merging with the borough of Friedrichshain,
Kreuzberg now benefits from the development of
Friedrichshain (e.g. OberbaumCity). The borough of
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg accommodates 258,500
inhabitants of which 23% are not German nationals.
13% receive social aid, with an average income per
household of €1200. Approximately 77% are aged
15 to 65.
Example: Innovative Centre in Berlin Borough
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
OberbaumCity
www.operbaum-city.de
• 46,000 m 2
• International Design Centre
• Companies in the creative services sector and ICT industry
Several of the neighbourhood management cultural
projects are located in the Kreuzberg district,
including an ‘empty shop’ project (see Appendix A
– Projects and Initiatives) and an annual Rap Festival.
Berlin Case Study/part two
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